Thousands of Spanish people marched in Barcelona in continued protest over Israel’s war in Gaza.
It followed widespread anger after the Israeli interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla that had set sail from Spain’s second city, trying to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Spain has seen an upsurge of support for Palestinians in recent weeks while its government intensified diplomatic efforts against Israel’s government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
The calls for protests in Southern Europe come as Hamas said it has accepted some elements of the plan laid out by US President Donald Trump to end the two-year war, which has left Gaza’s largest city in famine and stirred accusations of genocide against Israel.
In Barcelona, many families turned out along with people of all ages. Protesters carried Palestinian flags or wore t-shirts supporting Palestine.
Hand-held signs bore messages like ‘Gaza hurts me’, ‘Stop the Genocide’ and ‘Hands off the flotilla”.
A Bahraini businessman on holiday in Barcelona took videos of the demonstrations for the GDN and said: “I was genuinely touched by the support shown by people of all ages for the plight of the Palestinians.”
Large crowds assembled in central Rome for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted the international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organisers hoped would attract at least one million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilise individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilise, then nothing will change”.
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2m, according to organisers.
The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
Yesterday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
London police arrested six people who displayed support for a banned pro-Palestinian group yesterday and carried away protesters who gathered for a demonstration, despite requests to call it off after a deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Organisers refused requests by the police and government to call off the demonstration, which had been announced before the attack, to protest against the banning of pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for calm in a post on X yesterday morning, saying: “I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews.”
“This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain. It is a time to stand together,” he said.
Police said six people were arrested after unfurling a banner on Westminster Bridge outside parliament in support of Palestine Action, which was proscribed in July after members broke into an airbase and damaged military planes.
Hundreds gathered for the main protest event in Trafalgar Square in central London, where police began carrying away protesters as seated activists wrote out slogans on placards declaring their support for Palestine Action.
Onlookers chanted “shame on you” at officers.
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